Roll-on applicator



June 30, 1959 E. WILLIAMS ROLL-0N APPLICATOR Filed Dec. 5, 1957 INVENTOR. E DIVARD MLLMMS United States Patent ROLL-ON APPLICATOR Edward Williams, Chicago, Ill.

Application December 3, 1957, Serial No. 700,345

2 Claims. (Ci. 15132.5)

This invention relates to dispensing apparatus and more particularly to an applicator for dispensing type tubes.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a roll-on applicator for collapsible type dispensing tubes for applying various types of creams and salves to various parts of the body without soiling the hands or other appplication equipment.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a re-useable applicator head for collapsible type dispensing tubes which Will enable various types of creams and salves to be applied to various parts of the body directly from the tube.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a roll-on applicator bearing the above objects in mind which is of simple construction, has a minimum number of parts, is inexpensive to manufacture and efficient in operation.

For other objects and for a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure l is a side elevational view, with parts broken away, of an applicator made in accordance with the present invention in operative use;

Figure 2 is an end elevational view of the apparatus shown in Figure l; and

Figure 3 is an enlarged end elevational view, with parts broken away, of a closure cap forming a part of the present invention.

Referring now more in detail to the drawing, a roll-on applicator made in accordance with the present invention is shown to include a female socket member for threaded engagement with the outlet neck 12 of acollapsible type dispensing tube 13. This female socket member 15 includes a neck 16 which is upwardly and outwardly flared into an enlarged convex longitudinal side walls 17 and narrow end walls that define an upwardly opening compartment 18. A hollow spheroidal shaped roller 20, slightly spaced from the convex side walls, is rotatably supported upon end bearings 21 in the transverse end walls and within the compartment 18 in communication with the neck 16 of the socket 15. This roller is provided with circumferentially spaced apart and longitudinally extending ribs 23 substantially in rubbing contact with the interior of said convex side walls. The upper peripheral edge portion of said walls terminating in a Hat horizontal plane extending substantially flush with the top of the vertical ends of said roller and forming a wall surrounding the entire roller.

When not in use, a closure cap 25 having inwardly opening slots 28 in the end walls is in releasable engagement with outwardly extending similarly shaped beads 27 on the outer surface of the end walls adjacent the upper edge portion thereof. The entire device 10 is preferably constructed from a flexible type plastic, such as polyethylene since such can be readily molded and manufactured at a minimum cost.

2,892,202 Patented June 30, 1959 The entire applicator device may be readily threaded upon the outlet neck 12 of any tube 13 which contains a cream or salve type material, such as shaving cream, skin salves, and the like. After removing the cap 25 to a location as shown by 25a, it is only necessary to squeeze the tube 13 a sufficient amount to force a small quantity of the material upwardly into the compartment 18. By then rolling the roller 20 along the surface to be coated, the ribs 23 of the roller will pick up quantities of the material and distribute it upon the surface as it is moved longitudinally over it. These ribs 23 also serve to massage the particular tissue and may be used without applying additional material by drawing it back and forth over the surface without squeezing the tube so as to supply additional material to the compartment. It will thus be recognized that this device is completely operative to both massage the skin surface and supply the desired amount of material thereto without the necessity of having to soil the hands or other application equipment. After use, it is only necessary to apply the removed closure cap 25 to the top of the device so as to prevent the evaporation and contamination of the contents of the material that is disposed within the compartment.

While various changes may be made in the detail construction, it shall be understood that such changes shall be Within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A roll-on applicator and skin massager for use with collapsible type dispensing tubes comprising, in combination, a tubular socket member for releasable attachment to the outlet neck of a dispensing tube, said socket member having outwardly flaring convex longitudinal side Walls and straight transverse end walls defining an outwardly open compartment, a single roller means rotatably supported within said compartment in communication with the interior of said socket member, the entire upper edge portion of said side and end walls terminating in a flat horizontal plane extending substantially flush with the top of the ends of said roller, leaving the center portion of said roller extending thereabove, a removable closure cap with depending convex side walls and straight end walls for covering the upper open end of said compartment, said roller comprising a hollow spheroidal member comprising circumferentially spaced apart and longitudinally extending convex curved ribs secured to the outer convex surface of said spheroidal member, the ends of said spheroidal member being rotatably carried by bearings arranged in the transverse end walls of said compartment, the sides of said single spheroidal member being slightly spaced from said compartment side walls and with said longitudinally extending curved ribs in substantially rubbing contact with the interior of said convex side walls.

2. The combination according to claim 1, further comprising slotted openings in the depending end walls of said closure cap and outwardly extending beads upon the exterior of said transverse end walls of said compartment for releasably securing said closure cap upon said walls of said compartment.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 919,440 Lawson et al. Apr. 27, 1909 2,029,056 Carlson Jan. 28, 1936 2,229,707 Testi Jan. 28, 1941 2,685,099 Tonge Aug. 3, 1954 

